Prompted by concerns over the possible spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) destroyed three non-commercial flocks of chickens on small farms in Meriwether and Ben Hill counties on June 16.
Georgia State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb said he was notified by the USDA late in the week ending June 13 that chicks and eggs on three Georgia farms were shipped from a facility in Iowa that tested positive for the H5N2 strain of HPAI. The shipments arrived in Georgia around June 2. The Iowa facility tested positive after the birds and eggs were shipped.
Cobb said he worked with the Georgia farms to help them receive some indemnity for their lost birds or eggs. Those farms, which Cobb described as small hobby farms, are under quarantine until they can go through a cleaning and disinfecting process.
"There were no signs of any illness on any of the three premises," Cobb told GFB media. "What we're going to do is keep them under quarantine until such time as a flock plan can be established, which will include such things as cleaning and disinfecting and making sure that anything associated with these shipments, such as crates, are destroyed and disposed of properly, that all the incubators are cleaned and disinfected properly. Then at that time we can lift the quarantine."
Cobb said the H5N2 virus does not affect humans and emphasized that the spread of HPAI is not a food safety issue.
"Any avian influenza-infected poultry is destroyed and does not enter the market as part of the food supply as far as commercial growers are concerned," Cobb said.
Poultry shipped from the Iowa facility were ordered over the Internet or through mail order. Such birds are required to have been tested for avian influenza prior to being brought to Georgia and their owners must have a certificate of veterinary inspection, Cobb said.
On June 10 Cobb sent a letter to Georgia poultry producers raising birds with outside access urging them to move their birds into housing to reduce the potential for contact with migratory water foul. He recommended that they implement strict biosecurity measures, monitor the flocks for increased mortality or signs that the birds may be infected and report any concerns to state or federal animal health officials.
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